The celebration of Epiphany is brilliant throughout Albania

With the celebration of the Great Blessing of the Waters and the immersion of the Cross with many young people diving into the icy waters of seas and rivers, as well as fountains, Epiphany was celebrated throughout Albania.

Many believers came to the churches and reverently received the blessing, while in various areas crowds watched the immersion of the holy cross.

At the church Of The apostle paul and Saint astius In durrës, archbishop John Presided over The Divine liturgy, who also performed the Great Blessing.

In his sermon, he referred to the meaning of Christ's Baptism and its direct connection to our spiritual life. He emphasized that each of us's Baptism is not simply a moment in the past, but the beginning of a journey that requires continuity, growth and fruit.

And he added: “In the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Trinity is clearly revealed: The Father bears witness, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends. And this event is not a product of human wisdom, but a divine revelation.”

Due to bad weather conditions, the dive of the Cross into the waters of the Adriatic Sea did not take place.

In Fieri, after the Great Blessing, the immersion of the Cross in the city fountain took place, with young people throwing themselves into the waters.

In Elbasan, Metropolitan Anthony immersed the holy cross in the swimming pool of the "Ajek" multi-purpose hall and the Cross was caught by 14-year-old Hermes Khalili.

In Korçë, the Great Blessing was performed at the Resurrection Cathedral by Metropolitan Anastasios of Korçë, who then went to Pogdarec, where he immersed the Cross in the sea, with dozens of young people enthusiastically diving into the cold waters.

In Verati, the immersion of the holy cross was carried out by the local Metropolitan Astios, after a procession of clergy and people was formed and passed through the picturesque parts of the city, to the arched bridge of the river that crosses it.

In Aghios Saranda, the Cross of Metropolitan Nathanael of Gjirokastra was submerged in the sea, at a point on the coastal road. The young man from Dervitsani, Andreas Baroutas, was the one who caught it.

In Himara, after the Great Blessing at the church of Agia Marina, the cross was immersed on the beach, in the center of the Caves.

In the main village of Dervitsani, Gjirokastra, the Great Sanctification was performed in a special marble cistern in the courtyard of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, while in earlier years it was performed in a well in the village.

In Vlora, the immersion of the Cross was carried out in the sea by the parish priests of the church of Agios Theodoros, and a young man dared and dived for the cross.

As emphasized in the sermons, the Grace that was poured out and increased with the appearance of the Holy Spirit is acquired and appropriated by the Christian through Divine Baptism.

And it is comforting that in Albania, mainly young people, but also people of all ages, are being baptized Orthodox.

And so important is the contribution of Grace to the work of our rebirth that without it, human salvation is not possible.

Both the Grace of God, which is revealed to us on the day of Epiphany, and the privileges of Baptism for the believer, impose not only respect for these gifts, but also compliance.

If we remove God's Grace from our private and public lives, from our homes, from our jobs, we are no longer essentially Christians, but only formally.

With his Baptism, Christ enabled people to be cleansed from the dirt of sin and to emerge as worthy Christians. That is why the Lord began his work with the words “repent,” and repentance is the basis of the life of Christians. Have we truly repented?